Taking care of doctors....

Published

Do you get over the nervousness of it?

I've taken care of patients that had family members that were MDs, but not a doctor...until the other night. The most embarassing part was not knowing he was a doctor until 2 hours into the shift.

During report the previous nurse mentioned him wanting something done, her saying she would need an order, and him saying "well, I'll just write an order for it." I thought the pt was just being funny, haha... thought the pt was a little uppity (I mean, who does he think he is...a doctor or something?!?!?!)

Went to pass meds and he was due a stool softener. He refused. I encouraged. He refused again. I went into pt teaching about the benefits of a stool softner. He still refused. Asked about home meds. I told him I'd go check on them.

Went to look at the order for the home meds, noticed it was filled out, signed, etc. All looked good except... the pt had signed his name as the MD to continue meds. Right there it said John Doe, MD. Hmmmm....

Looked further in the chart... a family medical doc...

Asked around.... that had been practicing for 20+ years. :eek:

OKay, so I fess up maybe I'm guilty that I should've known. But being a newer nurse, on night shift, I don't see many of the doctors. And I had never seen this one before, and while his name sounded familiar...well, that happens a lot.

So I clarify his meds, and walk into the room and fess up. Told him I had no idea and apologize for trying to pill push some stool softener on him. We both got a big laugh out of it.

At the end of my shift I came to realize I didn't treat him any differently than any other patients, but I have to admit the whole process was a little nerve-wracking.

What are your experiences in having doctors for patients?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I think you unknowingly treated your patient exactly as he should be treated. Most MD's (and RN's for that matter) come in 2 types: those who inform you immediately and repeatedly of their status, or those who don't tell you that they have a clue about anything medical.

Those who insist on being called "Doctor" aren't really interested in anyone's input into their care. Those who are happy going incognito are willing to accept that they just MIGHT learn something along the way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I've taken care of many nurses and a few doctors. Either love them or hate them so far no in-betweens, lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Awww that sounded cute:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia, CTICU.

I had a patient who was a retired anesthesiologist (didn't introduce himself as one). Post-surgery, he asked what side effects / complications he might experience. I went on about possibility of voice being hoorifice b/c of the tube, potential blood pressure issues, monitoring of chest tubes, etc.. later in conversation, he admitted the profession he had retired from, and was just checking to make sure he was in good hands. Turned out to one of the best patients lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych.

When I use to work at a drug rehab I took care of several nurses, several CNA's that claimed to be RN's or LPN's and one doctor. With nurses there were those who told everyone they were nurses and expected special treatment.

They would grill you on all the meds and and try to "buddy up" with you to get more PRN narcotics. The one MD I work with was very normal laid back guy. The only time I heard he was a MD was in report. Never made an issue out of it. That was the case also with a few of the nurses but those were in the minority.

I wouldnt say substance abuse is common in nursing but its not as uncommon as you may think.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's a cute story, but you cared for him the same way I would have, doctor or not. He's in the hospital which can knock a few screws loose if you know what I mean :nurse: A doctor can be just as forgetful as a "regular" patient. Every patient is a VIP in my honest opinion and they all deserve to be treated with the same wonderful, wholesome, loving care :redpinkhe

Just my :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

exactly...Everyone of my patients is a VIP to me...doesn't matter if you're a doctor, related to someone on the board, or a homeless detox patient trying to get 3 hots and a cot.

I find that doctors are not usually allowed to be their own doc if they're admitted....I had a infectious disease doctor who popped in to visit with another doc...his dentist. the ID doc comes out, starts talking about orders, wants to be on the case, etc....us 3 nurses at the station look at him and go, "are you a consult, dr?" no? ok, we'll ask primary in the am. you can write your orders with if ok with dr so and so, and we'll see.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My patient doc couldn't be his own doc either, so even though he signed off on his meds I still had to call the admitting, verfiy, and re-write the order.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

my "taking care of a doctor" story happened before i became a nurse. i was almost 16 and a candy striper. one of my jobs was changing the glasses and water jugs, which were glass and metal back then.

one patient was a sweet man in his '90's. he chatted with each one of us and seemed interested in what we had to say.

i had sneaked a ride on a motorcycle owned by a fonzie-type student at school and had burned my calf on the tailpipe getting off. after about 3 days, it was infected and sore and it hurt to walk, but i still went to the hospital for my shift. this sweet ancient man immediately noticed my burned leg and gently examined it, then rang for the charge nurse. he said he was a retired surgeon. he requested cold compresses and silvadine and dressing supplies. he gently questioned me and found out i'd been afraid to tell my mom what had happened.

he said if i would come in every day, he'd change the dressing and make sure it was healing properly.

what i didn't know until years later, was that he had called my parents and filled them in then swore them to secrecy.

it healed properly thanks to a wonderful 96 year old retired surgeon who had also had rebellious grandchildren and could be an intermediary for me.

thanks, dr. peeples!

kathy

shar pei mom:paw::paw:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

Interesting...I just had a retired anesthesiologist. He'd had a PICC placed for long term abx, and was at our TCU because medicare wouldn't pay for the meds unless he was in a TCU...gotta love that logic. The guy was A&O and perfectly capable of self administration, yet Medicare would have rather paid the $$$ to keep him at our facility...but I digress.

I didn't know he was an MD until about a week into his stay when I got it in report. Although he asked me about the hep lock on his PICC, and commented on my good technique with the PICC. I just told him I'd had a little practice. I just approached him like I would any other patient. He liked to take benedryl with his sleeping pill, and of course in TCU/LTC where most pts. are elderly, benedryl is frowned upon. I did go over the risks vs. benefits, and he assured me he understood :-)

I've found caring for nurses to be more difficult, and the worst have been pts. who have family members that are CNAs. Most often they claim to be nurses, when they are CNAs, hoping that the nurses will...well, I'm not sure what they are hoping for but they are obnoxious.

I'd rather just have an open dialogue with my pts. and I don't care what they do for a living. I'm happy to teach, and I'm happy to learn.

I had a patient who was a retired anesthesiologist (didn't introduce himself as one). Post-surgery, he asked what side effects / complications he might experience. I went on about possibility of voice being hoorifice b/c of the tube, potential blood pressure issues, monitoring of chest tubes, etc.. later in conversation, he admitted the profession he had retired from, and was just checking to make sure he was in good hands. Turned out to one of the best patients lol
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

My second patient ever, during my first semester of clinicals in nursing school was a recently retired OB/GYN. I was 5 months pregnant at the time. He was tickled pink about being assigned a nursing student in the first place, and laughed when I entered the room obviously pregnant. He was so supportive of me through the whole clinical day. Such a sweet old man. MD or not, I hope I have a lot of patients like him :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion